Based on an autobiographical novella by Ivan Olbracht, the film tells the story of Hanele Safarová, who grows up just after the First World War in a little Ruthenian schtetl which, in true Hassidic fashion, awaits the arrival of the Messiah. But Hanele decides to follow the Zionists instead. She moves to the city to prepare for her departure to the Promised Land, where she meets a successful businessman named Ivo Karadzic, who has renounced Judaism to become a free-thinker. Their love for each other doesn’t only drive Hanele’s parents to distraction, it also threatens to destroy the entire community in the schetl.
Karel Kachyňa
Director
Petr Hojda
Director of Photography
Jana Dudková
Screenplay
Petr Hapka
Original Music Composer
Lada Jelínková
Hanele Šafarová
Miroslav Noga
Ivo Karadžič
Jiří Ornest
Dad
Táňa Fischerová
Mom
Milan Lasica
Grandpa Šafar
Hanuš Bor
Pinches Jakubovič
Václav Chalupa
Šlojme Kac
Stanislav Zindulka
Jid Fajnerman
Jan Kraus
Salamon Fux
Eva Holubová
Ester Fuxová
Radim Kalvoda
Benci Fux
Jindřich Khain
Herše Fux
